Device for automatically transmitting and recording messages



June 29, K. DANIEL 2,935,252

DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY TRANSMITTING AND RECORDING MESSAGES Filed May 13, 1935 a 171119771117. A wrIIO/NZZZ.

- F/ z. $.12 M, Am

Patented June 29, 1937 PATENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY TRANSMIT- TING AND RECORDING MESSAGES Karl Daniel, Cologne-ILindenthal, Germany Application May 13, 1933, Serial No. 870,972 In Germany May 21, 1932 8 Claims.

I have filed an application in Germany on May 21, 1932; in Great Britain on February 10, 1933; Switzerland, July 22, 1932; Italy, March 24, 1933; France, February 15, 1933; Belgium, February 22, 1933; and Austria, January 30, 1933.

The present invention relates to devices for use in telephone systems for automatically transmitting and recording messages, and more particularly to a device of this kind which is provided with a transmitting cylinder and a recording cylinder, and wherein the transmitting cylinder has a communication recorded upon it in the first place by the owner of the apparatus and is adapted to reproduce the said communication when a call takes place, whilst the recording cylinder is adapted automatically to record incoming speech, such as conversation or messages.

According to the invention the control oi. the switching operations in devices of this kind is considerably improved, and in particular it is rendered possible to record on the transmitting cylinder messages coming from any other substation on the telephone system, as also to listen from any other substation on the telephone system to the recorded messages, whilst in addition to this, means are provided for automatically switching out the whole device. The control of the aforesaid operations and similar operations is eifected according to the invention by the transmission of acoustically generated audio frequency currents to electromagnetically operated apparatuses of a kind known per se which energize switching relays.

A preferred constructional form oi the invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of the device, and

' Fig. 2 is a plan thereof together with a diagram of connections.

The mechanical part of the device comprises a transmitting cylinder 30 and a recording cylinder 29 together with their driving means. on the transmitting cylinder 30 a standard announcement or communication is recorded or engraved.

. Beyond this comparatively short communication the owner of the apparatus can make a speech record on the transmitting cylinder either directly or from any desired telephone at another substation on the system according to his requirements. In the former case the apparatus is switched oil from the telephone system and connected to its own speech transmitting leads by means of a separate switch. In front of the transmitting cylinder a sound box 24 provided with a needle for recording or reproducing respectively is slidably arranged, which sound box serves both for recording speech on the transmitting cylinder by the owner and also for the reproduction oi the communication when a call from a person other than the subscriber occurs. On the bar, on which the sound box 24 slides a contact 20 is provided, which can be brought into any desired position on the bar. The said contact 24 is connected in a circuit in which an electromagnet 2la actuating a switch 2i is likewise connected, which according to its position switches on or oil respectively a solenoid 22 or a solenoid 22. The said solenoids serve for coupling the motor either with the transmitting cylinder 20 or with the recording cylinder 29. The switch 2| is operated by the sound box 24 striking against the contact 28. On the contact 26 a device is also provided which, when the sound box strikes it, automatically switches out the latter, whereupon the sound box flies back into its initial position under the influence oi the spring 24a.

The sound box 24 is only switched in again on the arrival 01' a new communication when the motor which is coupled with the recording cylinder 29 at the end of the previous communication becomes coupled with the transmitting cylinder 30 at the beginning of the new conversation. By this change over of the coupling the sound box 24 is simultaneously switched in automatically in a manner not shown on the drawing. In front of the recording cylinder 8. sound box 2i adapted to co-operate with the said cylinder is slidably mounted. The driving motor 31 is mounted so as to be capable of swinging on pivotal supports 21a and is provided with a rubber friction wheel 27b which, according to the connections of the circuit, is pressed through the agency of the solenoids 22 and 23 either up against the transmitting cylinder 30 or up against the recording cylinder 29. The said cylinders may by suitable modifications of the construction be replaced by endless bands.

Besides the said cylinders a further cylinder 32 is provided which is carried on a shaft Journalled at its one end and which serves for the preservation or storage or speech records of communication and the like. If it is desired to transfer a speech record to the cylinder 22 for preservation, the cylinder is set in rotation by means 01' a belt 83 and a sound box 34 is switched in by means of the switch 38. After the recording operation the part which has been recorded upon may be cut oi! by means 01 a cutter 25 in order to facilitate the preservation of the speech record. For the same purpose a roller mechanism for a the recorded speech could be transmitted for preservation and from which it could be listened to at any time.

The sound box 24, which is arranged in known manner so as to be movable in front of the transmitting cylinder, strikeawhen a normal call occurs at .the conclusion of the communication, against the contact 26. A circuit is thereby closed which energizes a magnet Zia, which latter causes the switch ii to move from the. position shown in the drawing towards the right. As a result of this the solenoid 22 is switched out and the solenoid 23 is switched in, whereby the motor is swung in such manner that it no longer drives the transmitting cylinder tt but drives the recording cylinder 29 instead; At the same time by the impact of the sound box 2% on the contact 28 the sound box is switched out and a spring 24a is released, whereby the sound box is drawn back into its initiaiposition.

The actuation of 'the device described is effected indirectly by means of local alternating current supply which is led in by means of a plug socket E, is converted in a rectifier 6 into direct current and is transformed from the mains voltage to a lower voltage.

voltage and the current passes thence directly into the apparatus. The circuit is closed by means of the switches i0 and i i, which can be actuated either by energization. of the magnet iiia or of the magnet iiia. In the circuit of the magnet its there is a condenser 9 which is intended to prevent the :actuation of the said magnet its by the exchange battery (continuous currents). Between the exchange leads i and the telephone 3, in addition to the hand-manipulated change-over switch 2, a retarding relay 4 is connected, which effects the change-over of the exchange leads i on to the apparatus only after the expiration of a certain to function for acertain time entirely satisfactime in order to delay the switching in of the apparatus when the subscriber is present, in which case it is, of course, not necessary to switch in. By means of the hand operated switch 2 connected in the exchange leads I the incoming calling currents are conducted either directly into the apparatus or into the retarding relay ii which only automatically switches over on to the apparatus after the lapse of a certain time. After the operation of switching over on to the apparatus has taken place the incoming calling currents energize the magnet iiia which switches in the two switches I0 and ii, whereby the circuit through the plug socket 5 for the local current, the rectifier 8, the interposed battery i and the magnet iia is closed. The battery serves as a reserve which renders it possible for the device torily even when the local current is out off. After the cessation of the calling current the magnet liia has .no current passing through it. The

switches 10 and Hare now retained by the magnet i lb in their closed position until in a manner hereinafter described the circuit of the mains current is interrupted for a short time.

-By the switching in of the switch it the circuit of the speaking current leads it in which circuit the choking coil 8 is connected, is closed. The station audio frequency currents arriving through theleads i i are led through the transformer Ma to the amplifier l 'i, so that a separation from. .the. station current circuit is ensured.

The storage battery i is then supplied with current at the lower By closing the switches ii] and ii the motor 21 and also the solenoid 22 are supplied with current over leads i2a and switch 2i respectively whereby the motor is coupled with the transmitting cylinder 30, which now gives the communication to the caller through the circuit of the sound box 26, the leads i3 and the amplifier i i. At the end of the communication the sound box 2t touches the stop contact 26, is lifted up in the manner already described and is brought back into the initial position by spring action. Previously, as a result of the striking of the sound box 25 on the contact 26, a circuit is closed, in which a magnet Zia is connected, which latter is thereby energized and changes over the switch 2i, whereby the solenoid 22 is switched out and the solenoid 23 switched in; thereby the motor is coupled with the recording cylinder 29. This switching over from transmitting to recording is completed very rapidly. During the communication or conversation which now follows the diaphragm of the relay i5 is set in vibration electromagnetically by speech currents so that it intermittently closes the circuit of the magnet it which when first energized attracts the armature liia the return movement of which is retarded by means of any suitable breaking device known per se. In spite of the intermittent energization the armature lta remains attracted, inasmuch as it is held between the individual energizing impulses by means of the retarding mechanism.

When the conversation is ended the operation of the diaphragm of the relay i5 and consequently the intermittent energization of the magnet it ceases. After the action of the retarding device has ceased the armature iiia flies upwards under spring action, strikes against the contact lever trolled by the spring ific, and thereby lifts up the said contact lever for a short period, until the contact lever iBbis again brought into the closed position by the spring iiic. By this short interruption of the circuit the installation is put out of action and the magnet He has no current passing through it whereby the switches iii and Ii are opened. On the descent of the armature the lever contact i6b is switched in again and thus again establishes the connection for new incoming conversations. The sound box it recording the conversation remains located at the place at which the recorded communication had ended owing to the cutting off of the supply current.

The owner of the apparatus can listen later on to the recorded communications by mea'ns of a loud speaker or directly by means of his telephone apparatus. In this case he switches over a switch 81, whereupon the owner can commence to listen to the recorded communications. Communications of particular importance can be transmitted via switch 36 to the cylinder 32 and be detached for preservation or storage. The communications can likewise be listened to by means of this dedescription.

, In order to render possible the recording of The details of these less speech on the transmitting cylinder from any other substation on the telephone system, an electromagnetically operated apparatus 25 of note by 'means of a whistle, tuning fork or the like, whereupon the electromagnetically operated apparatus 25 comes into operation and closes the circuit for the magnet at the stop contact 28; thereupon the magnet lifts a lever carrying the stop lever away from the shaft. Then the sound box 24 slides forward on the guide spindle, transmitting the additional communication from the owner to the cylinder and pushing the stop contact 26 with the raised stop lever forwards in front of it. For initiating this operation it is only necessary to close the circuit once so that the sound which switches in the apparatus 25 only needs to be 01' short duration. The switching out operation is effected at the end of the communication through the medium of the parts I! and IS in similar manner to that above described with reference to the case of the reception of communications. In consequence of the opening of the circuit thereby effected the magnet in the stop contact 26 is no longer energized as a result of which the stop lever is operative again, whilst the sound box 24 fiies back into its initial position under the action of a previously tensioned spring. When calls arrive in the absence of the subscriber, the sound box 24 now runs over the whole recording space for communications up to the stop contact 26 and thus communicates the whole communication to the person calling up.

If the proprietor desires to hear from any other substation on the telephone system the communications recorded in his absence then, after the announcement from cylinder 30 of his apparatus is completed, he again sounds, likewise, by means of a whistle or the like, a definite note or sound, which in this case is taken up by the electromagnetically operated diaphragm of the relay II. This closes the circuit of the magnet Ila appertaining thereto, whereby a locking member (not shown on the drawing) in the sound box 3! is put out of action and the latter is thus disconnected from its guiding rod in similar manner to the sound box 26 and is drawn back into its initial position wherein it engages once more with the guide rod. The sound box 3| then reproduces to the calling subscriber the communications which have been received.

The amplifier I 4 serves for the amplification both of incoming and also outgoing conversations. For this purpose it is provided with a change-over switch which is automatically controlled correspondingly by the incoming and outgoing currents respectively in known manner.

I claim:

1. In a device for use in telephone systems for automatically transmitting and recording messages, the combination of: an electrically controlled transmitting phonograph cylinder; means including a sound box for enabling an initial message to be recorded on said transmitting cylinder and transmitted therefrom; a plurality of electrically controlled recording cylinders for re-' cording and reproducing messages subsequent to the recording of the initial message; means including a sound 'box for reproducing messages from said recording cylinders; a cylindrical cage upon which said recording cylinders are mounted parallel to one another; rack and pinion mechanisms for turning said cage to bring the cylinder into the operativepccition; solenoids operatively connected with said rack and pinion mechanisms to operate the latter when current is supplied to said solenoids after a given recording cylinder has run its full course; electromagnetic apparatuses which are actuated by audio frequency currents and operate switches controlling said cylinders and said sound boxes; and sources of electricity supply for said electrically controlled elements and said electromagnetic apparatuses.

2. In a device for use in telephone systems for automatically transmitting and recording messages, the combination of: an electrically controlled transmitting phonograph cylinder; means including a sound box for enabling an initial message to be recorded on said transmitting cylinder and transmitted therefrom; a plurality of electrically controlled recording cylinders for recording and reproducing messages subsequent to the recording of the initial message; means including a sound box for reproducing messages from said recording cylinders; a cylindrical cage upon which said recording cylinders are mounted parallel to one another; rack and pinion mechanisms for turning said cage to bring the cylinder into the operative position; solenoids operatively connected with said rack and pinion mechanisms to operate the latter when current is supplied to said solenoids after a given recording cylinder has run its full course; electromagnetic apparatuses which are actuated by audio frequency currents and operate switches controlling said cylinders and said sound boxes; sources of electricity supply for said electrically controlled elements and said electromagnetic apparatuses; a driving motor mounted so as to be capable of swinging; and means for swinging said motor between said transmission cylinder and the recording cylinder located in the operative-position into driving engagement with one of said cylinders.

3. In a device for use in telephone systems for automatically transmitting and recording messages, a combination as specified in claim 2, wherein the means for swinging said motor comprise solenoids operatively connected to said motor.

4. In a device for use in telephone systems for automatically transmitting and recording messages, a combination as specified in claim 2, wherein the means for swinging said motor comprise solenoids operatively connected with said motor; and a rubber friction wheel on the shaft of said motor adapted to bear on the one or the other cylinder to make driving connection therewith.

5. In a device for use in telephone systems for automatically transmitting and recording messages, of the kind in which remote control is employed, the combination of: an electrically controlled transmitting phonograph cylinder; means including a controlled sound box for enabling an initial message tobe recorded on said transmitting cylinder and transmitted therefrom; an electrically controlled recording cylinder for recording and reproducing messages subsequent to the recording of the initial message; means including a sound box for reproducing messages from said recording cylinders; electro-magnetic apparatuses which are operated by audio frequency currents and operate switches controlling said cylinders and said sound boxes; sources of electricity supply for said electrically controlled elements and said electro-magnetic apparatuses; all said elements being adapted to be controlled and operated from any part of an ordinary telephone mains system.

6. In a device for use in telephone systems as specified in claim 5, the provision of: a driving motor which is adapted to swing between a. recording and a reproducing cylinder into the necessary operative positions to effect driving graph cylinder; a second electrically controlled sound box for recording messages on and reproducing messages from said second phonograph cylinder; electrically operated means for controlling both of said sound boxes including devices set in action by audio frequency currents; a telephone electrically connected with said sound boxes and electrically operated means; and sources of electricitysupply electrically connected with said sound boxes and electrically operated means; said devices set in action by audio-frequency being tuned to re spond to definite sounds, whereby the apparatus is adapted to be controlled and operated from any part of an ordinary telephone system, substantially as described.

aosasse 8. An apparatus for use in telephone systems for automatically transmitting and recording messages, comprising in combination: a phonegraph cylinder; an electricallycontrolled sound box for recording messages on and reproducing 1 messages from said cylinder; 9. second phonograph cylinder; a second electrically controlled trically connected with said sound boxes and electrically operated means; said devices set in action by audio-frequency being tuned to respond to definite sounds, whereby the apparatus is adapted to be controlled and operated from any part of an ordinary telephone system, substantially as described.

DANIEL 

